Abstract
Placements, arrangements, and constructions of large stones – most often termed
‘megalithic monuments’ – have long occupied the imagination of the global archaeological
community. So-called ‘megalithic traditions’ have been studied extensively in Central to
Northern Europe, and to a lesser extent in other parts of the world such as the Middle East,
parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Due to the nature of Australia’s relatively unique
archaeological record, and assumptions about ‘hunter-gatherer’ landscapes, it has often
been assumed that Australian Aboriginal populations did not (or could not) construct
monumental places from stone. Drawing on transdisciplinary research conducted over
the past decade, we show how large rock outcrops were carved out to create new forms
of monumental architecture in Northern Australia. We track back through time these
anthropically shifting shapes of monumental rock outcrops, with implications for how
Indigenous communities organized and marked their worlds more than , years ago.
‘megalithic monuments’ – have long occupied the imagination of the global archaeological
community. So-called ‘megalithic traditions’ have been studied extensively in Central to
Northern Europe, and to a lesser extent in other parts of the world such as the Middle East,
parts of Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Due to the nature of Australia’s relatively unique
archaeological record, and assumptions about ‘hunter-gatherer’ landscapes, it has often
been assumed that Australian Aboriginal populations did not (or could not) construct
monumental places from stone. Drawing on transdisciplinary research conducted over
the past decade, we show how large rock outcrops were carved out to create new forms
of monumental architecture in Northern Australia. We track back through time these
anthropically shifting shapes of monumental rock outcrops, with implications for how
Indigenous communities organized and marked their worlds more than , years ago.
Original language | English |
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Title of host publication | Megaliths of the World |
Editors | Luc Laporte, Jean-Marc Large, Laurent Nespoulous, Chris Scarre, Tara Steimer-Herbert |
Place of Publication | Oxford Uk |
Publisher | Archaeopress |
Chapter | 10 |
Pages | 241-256 |
Number of pages | 15 |
Volume | 1 |
ISBN (Electronic) | 9781803273211 |
ISBN (Print) | 9781803273204 |
Publication status | Published - 2022 |